Post natal depression

NBush - sorry to hear that your baby is in hospital. How is he doing now?

I suffer from PND and I've been on meds for 3 months. Its like chalk and cheese. I'm a different person. I much better wife and mother to my family.
It took a group of friends to convince me to see a dr. And I'm so thankful to them for that.

I got this from Baby Sense book:
If you feel:
-out of control, frustrated and very irritable
-that you are not the kind of mother you want to be
-scared, panicky,anxious or worried
-sad or miserable most of the time
-unable to laugh or to feel joy
-unable to cope
-afraid to be alone
-unusually tearful
-as though you are going crazy

Or if you have:
-difficulty in sleeping
-no sex drive
-thoughts about harming yourself or your baby

You may be suffering from PND. Please seek help. The PNDSA provides education and support to health professionals and the public regarding emotional difficulties associated with child-bearing. PNDSA help lines 0828820072 or 0833093960 tel/fax 021 7974498 email liz@pndsa.co.za

Hi everyone

Sorry I have been so quite. Nathan landed in hospital with a stomach bug. He is still struggling with his stomach though.

I got some meds from the dr and I am feeling better. Do not want to sit at home all day so I do visit and go out. Feels like the walls are closing in.

Hi

I knew I had PND from the time I gave birth. I had a traumatic birth experience, did not bond with my son, was very angry and frustrated with him constantly (he had chronic colic and allergies and reflux). I never felt this "never knew I could love someone so much" feeling. I felt it was a chore to look after him. He refused to breastfeed and I was pumping and often felt he wasnt worthy of all my efforts with the pumping. I was exhausted, I cried all the time and I felt like he was just a baby I was looking after.

It took me 3 months to go get meds (I guess I was hoping it would just get better) and now he is 7 months old. He is still a very demanding child and there are still days I just wish I lived back in SA (I live in USA) so someone could just take him from me and give me a break.

The meds helped. I'd say we began bonding more around 5 months and only in the last 2 weeks do I feel he is becoming a bit easier.
But that said, the last 30 hours I honestly just want to throw him against the wall (which I never would do...) or run away. I just leave him in his cot to cry because he is driving me insane and everything I do doesnt make him stop crying/moaning.

About a week ago I decided I'm ready to be weaned off and planned to see the doctor soon. However after spending a lot of the day crying on his bedroom floor yesterday I think I'm not ready....

Thank you so much for all the replies. I think the meds are starting to work as I am starting to feel a bit better.

Unfortunately my baby was admitted to hospital on Thursday with a stomach virus. He is still there as they are struggling to get the stomach settled. I am just taking it one day at a time although I worry about him.

Having had depression previously often makes you more likely to get PND. I have no idea why. Mabye the sleep deprivation and hormones etc. I had had depression prior to having a baby and I had been through quite a stressful time before the pregnancy. Most of my issues were related to Post traumatic stress rather than pnd, but it developed into pnd and depression even with a therapist so I think looking back I might have been better off with some meds too to start with, but I worked hard in therapy and it has helped me so much.

I recently went onto antidepressants for chronic headaches and my mood has shifted and I have more energy so not a bad thing at all.

I really wanted to run away from my family. Thought of driving off a cliff on one occassion (I was driving the car at the time) and I didn't bond with my son until he was 5 months old and to be honest it has taken almost 3 years of slowly bonding with him but now there is a truly special bond we share.

Julz, it is actually quite shocking that GPs are so nonchalant about prescribing depression meds! I mean, to not tell you about the stuff's effect on birth control (damn, I should have known about that one!!!). The only thing my GP told me is it has an effect on one's libido. Helloooo, as if I was in the mood for the deed with the depression . And for the pharmacist getting the dose wrong, that's inexcusable.

Nbush, I experienced extreme anxiety (even without reason), felt like little things would make me lose it, and just the general feeling of unhappiness. Doing anything felt like such an effort. Weird how I was so happy while being with my baby and I really bonded well with her. (Lucky for me).

After having a total melt down on friday I phoned the psycologist I always see. I have a history of depression. She urged me to go to the gp as he is the one who prescribed my anti depressents. He gave me a stronger dose and also gave me a tranquiliser.

What are your symptoms? Feeling nothing. Feeling like you are not bonding with your baby. Anxiety??

I do feel a bit better every day. The weird thing is that I dont want to be alone at home. Anyone felt this way?